A tribute to Moulana Taha Karaan, a truly impeccable human of individual excellence
MOULANA Taha Karaan is no longer with us, his priceless soul has entered Almighty God’s abode.
Sadly we see that many people who have made our world better, in big and small ways, have vanished before we were ready to let them go. It was once said that “Genius is so fine and rare”; Moulana Karaan was a unique rarity and a fine specimen of human eloquence, who inspired us all. His death is a loss for all of humanity.
We have lost a colossal mind and a wonderful spirit. Within minutes the virtual world was flooded with condolences, with many rich tributes; a glimpse of this can be had from the headlines of various news reports and tributes in online portals.
He was truly an inspirational personality whose influence transcended international boundaries. He explained religious matters with his unique and incredibly gracious response. Many of us were impacted by his voice, his life and his legacy.
The local and global acclaim that has followed his death must be seen as a vindication of his immense stature as a scholar par excellence; we lost an intellectual giant and an erudite scholar. His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake. Those who knew him became enamoured by his monumental knowledge of religious affairs, such wealth among us is now so shortly removed.
It is hard to eulogise any man, to capture in words not just the facts and the dates that make a life, but the essential truth of a person, like Moulana Karaan, who was a perennial symbol of individual excellence. A beloved man is dead. We mourn. Every now and then a meteor drops from the sky and 10 000 tongues from across the land are united in mourning.
Moulana had an eclectic research and writing scope that ranged across the religious spectrum, which remains unmatched. The scope of his accomplishments, the adoration that he so rightly earned, will lead us to remember him as a religious icon, smiling and serene.
At the apex of his life, we witnessed an impeccable individual who earned his place in history. His accomplishments are legendary. His quest for the truth gave him unassailable credibility and integrity, which will never be available again in our lifetime. A courageous man who in his pursuit of the truth will always be associated with peace.
A gentleman in the truest sense of the word, yet there was a tenacity and a firmness about him; he did not compromise on the truth as he understood it. A great scholar and protector of morality who dedicated his whole life to spiritual liberation, moral self-betterment and tolerance. We will always remember him as a man of peace, humanity and compassion who personified brotherhood, tolerance, righteousness and the coexistence of all religions.
Goodbye to a literary giant. A man who displayed erudition at its premium has left our earthly shores. We were indeed lucky to be blessed with his intellectual rarity. Moulana Karaan is an irreplaceable gem. He was the conscience of a generation. He was a supreme scholar and teacher of the highest calibre. His impact will transcend generations; a rare genius who moulded minds. The doors of Heaven are anxiously awaiting your illustrious presence.
Generations to come will scarcely believe such a profound and precious soul walked on this Earth, truly an impeccable human of individual excellence, who will not be replaced in our lifetime. FAROUK ARAIE | Benoni